Josephine sparks debate at Berlinale as Beth de Araújo references Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest

Beth de Araújo references Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest as Channing Tatum reflects on parenting at Berlinale

At the 2026 Berlinale, Josephine director Beth de Araújo appeared to reference the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, while co-star Channing Tatum spoke candidly about fatherhood during a press conference for the competition title.

The drama, which premiered to strong reactions following its Sundance debut, centers on an eight-year-old girl who witnesses a violent sexual assault in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. De Araújo has said the film draws from her own childhood experience, describing how the incident left her with lasting hyper-vigilance.

When asked whether society is better equipped today to handle childhood psychological trauma, de Araújo responded, “It depends what country,” before adding, “maybe this week the UK is,” in remarks widely interpreted as alluding to Mountbatten-Windsor’s reported arrest in the United Kingdom. He was detained for questioning on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his associations with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. He has previously denied allegations connected to Epstein.

De Araújo reiterated her call for greater accountability for sexual abuse perpetrators, emphasizing the impact of silence and stigma on survivors. She stressed that responsibility should lie with offenders rather than victims.

Tatum, who portrays Josephine’s father in the film, discussed drawing from his own experience as a parent. The actor recounted an incident involving his daughter at school and underscored his belief in teaching children to protect themselves.

Josephine arrives in Berlin with awards momentum after winning both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance, positioning it as an early contender in the 2026–2027 awards season conversation.